15 Madison Square North, 15 East 26th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 15 East 26th Street by Carter Horsley

In 2006, the top 12 floors of the 20-story office building at 15 West 26th Street were converted to residential condominium apartments.

The mid-block building, which is known now as 15 Madison Square North, is between Fifth and Madison Avenues and overlooks Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building.

The very attractive building has a light-beige-colored brick façade with interesting figures on the third and 17th floors and a three-story limestone base. Limestone escutcheons surrounded by owls are on the fourth floor.

The building has deeply inset windows at either end of its façade facing the park and the center of the façade are three pairs of windows. The building has consistent one-over-one windows and there are arched windows on the top floor.

The building has a large wood-paneled lobby with concierge desk and a large entrance marquee.

The building has a health club developed with the consultation of Robin Brown, the president of the CLAY Fitness Center and Spa, and it has a concierge service created by Abigail Michaels and it has a wine cellar created with the design advice of Peter Morrell of Morrell & Company. The building also has a roof deck and maids' rooms are available.

Kitchens are by Arclinea with ebonized cabinetry with white quartz countertops and islands wrapped with Calacatta marble. The kitchens have Sub-Zero refrigerators and Miele dishwashers and most also have a two-zone Sub-Zero wine cooler. Glass-encased hoods compliment the black and stainless steel Viking stoves.

Bathrooms have vanities, fixtures and medicine cabinets designed by Waterworks and walls lined in Bianco Dolomiti marble.

The conversion was undertaken by Madison Park Owner LLC, of which Ernest Faraci of Walters & Samuels is a principal and financing for the development was arranged through Deutsche Bank.

Dan Goldner Architects is the architect for the conversion and Nathan Egan Interiors is the interior designer for the residential spaces.

A six-bedroom apartment with seven-and-a-half baths and 7,343 square feet was priced initially at $14,450,000. A four-bedroom apartment with four-and-a-half baths and 4,766 square feet was priced initially at $9,600,000. A three-bedroom apartment with three-and-a-half baths and 3,236 square feet was priced initially at $4,325,000 and a one-bedroom apartment with two baths and 1,180 square feet was priced initially at $1,275,000.

The building's lower eight floors remain commercial.

The building was the most recent of several to be converted in whole or in part around the square.

The former Gift Building at 225 Fifth Avenue between 26th and 27th Street is being converted as is the former International Toy Center at 200 Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street and 1107 Fifth Avenue at 24th Street. In addition, the building at 50 Madison Avenue on the northwest corner at 26th Street was recently expanded and converted and plans are underway to convert the great MetLife tower at 1 Madison Avenue into residential condominiums and perhaps a hotel.

Madison Square Park was refurbished in recent years and a food concession stand known as the Shake Shack has become extremely popular.

This location is very convenient to many restaurants and clubs in the Chelsea, Flatiron and Gramercy Park districts and there is good public transportation.